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Although the selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) tamoxifen and raloxifene are the only agents approved for preventing breast cancer in high-risk women, earlier reports have suggested that aromatase inhibitors (AIs) may be more effective than SERMs for chemoprophylaxis. In an international, partially manufacturer-funded trial, investigators assessed the efficacy and safety of the AI anastrozole (1 mg daily for 5 years) versus placebo in postmenopausal women with excess risk for breast cancer.
Among 3864 participants (median age at baseline, 60), significantly fewer breast cancers overall were diagnosed in the anastrozole group than the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.47; P<0.0001), although anastrozole did not significantly lower in…